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B6 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday December 18, 2002 Christmas is a luxury some families cannot afford Halton Family Services benefits from Christmas spirit Christmas giving began in early November at Halton Family Services. For the fourth year in a row, an anonym ous donor brought in a cheque for $10,000 to help children of needy clients to have presents under the tree. Donations continue to come in. ZENON Environm ental Inc. and Source for Sports delivered boxes of toys, and the students at St. Peter School in Milton saved for a month to donate a total of $ 1,897.50. Residents of Churchill Place donated gift cer tificates. "With eighty-tw o needy families to help, we continue to wel come donations of any amount," said Executive Director, Nancy Brown. "It is heart-warming to see people of all ages extending themselves to care for our community's most vulnerable. We know these clients, and how hard their lives are. Without the help of donors, their Christmas would be very bleak." Halton Family Services is a United Way agency providing a wide range of counselling services to the people of Halton. It also receives funding from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, the Milton Community Fund, and the Community Foundation of Oakville. Halton Family Services is accredited by Family Service Ontario and the Ontario A ssociation of Credit Counselling Services. I n the midst of abundance, there are hundreds of par ents in Oakville who have no choice - buying gifts for their children this Christmas just isn't possible. For many families in our community, those who are unemployed, on fixed incomes or the working poor who live below the poverty line, buying gifts this holiday season is a luxury that they cannot afford. To help, the Jingle Bell Fund was start ed in 1995 by local business men and women, in partnership with the Salvation Army and the Oakville Beaver. Money raised goes to purchase toys to supplement those that are donated to the Salvation Army's Christmas Depot. Most often the toys that need to be bought are for the hardto-shop for teens, an age group that, traditionally, the Salvation Army receives fewer donated gifts for. Funds raised throughout December and into January replenish this fund every year. Over the years, thou sands of children have had the joy of gifts on Christmas morning thanks to the gen erosity of the people of Oakville. This year, the scope of the Jingle Bell Fund has increased: as well as toping up the donated gifts for the Christmas Depot, it now covers 'Christmas in July' camp costs for children who may otherwise never have experienced the camaraderie of summer camp. As well, the Jingle Bell Fund has been used to purchase 200 turkeys for families as part of the Christmas Hamper program, to supple ment turkeys that are donated for local families. We believe all of Oakville's children well-off or not -- should have a Merry Christmas. Companies and individuals can help the Jingle Bell Fund by simply making out a cheque, payable to The Salvation Army -- Jingle Bell Fund, c/o the Oakville Beaver, 467 Speers Road, Oakville, Ontario L6K 3S4. Credit card donations can also be made to the Salvation Army by calling 905-8275324, ext. 24. Hopedale Hardware Your frie n d ly neighbourhood h ardw are store H ardw are a n d a w hole lo t m ore Clearance Christmas Lights Trees and Decorations Shop early for best selectio 905 847-1171 - it `i S 9 * ry discovers orth Pole. Julie discovers cool holiday shopping. Holiday Shopping Hours: December 1 6-23 Mon-Fri -1 0 am 10 pm Sat. 9:30 am - 9 pm Sun. 10 am - 6 pm December 24 9 am - 5 pm December 25 Mall Closed December 26 9 am - 6 pm Boxing Week Hours: December 2 7 10 am · 9 pm December 28 9:30 am - 6 pm December 2 9 10 am - 6 pm December 3 0 10 am - 9 pm December 31 9 a m - 5 pm January 1 Mall Closed Gift certificates available in denominations of $5, $10 & $50 Gift-wrapping available (all proceeds donated to charity) South Service Road off Dixie in Mississauga Tel. (905) 278-7492